Thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) of lunar samples

The TRM of the lunar breccia 10048-55 and the crystalline rocks 12053-47 and 14053-48 have been investigated. TRM is acquired linearly by 12053-47 and 10048-55 in fields of 100 to 1 oe. In contrast, the TRM of 14053-48 departs from linearity in the same range of fields. The AF stability of TRM acquired by the samples varies markedly. 10048-55 and 12053-47 are of intermediate hardness, such as would be expected for a TRM carried at least in part by fine grain particles of iron having high coercivity. 14053-48 has extremely soft TRM which is most probably carried predominantly by multidomain iron. Thermal demagnetization of the TRM of 10048-55 revealed well distributed blocking temperatures, but the TRM of 14053-48 has markedly bimodal blocking temperatures. Comparison of the characteristics of the NRM and the TRM of the three samples suggest that only the NRM of 14053-48 is likely to be primarily thermal in origin.